The trail of terror continues with cricketers as the latest target. The Mumbai and Lahore attacks, public executions and the murder of over a thousand civilians in the Swat valley by Taliban style terrorists are horrifying examples of atrocities committed by militant groups thriving on political Islam. Global Muslim communities require urgent measures in condemning the agenda of political Islam that distorts religious scriptures to legitimise violence. This ideology of Islamism is threatening to replace a moderate and spiritual Islam, leading to the destruction of society, particularly oppressing women and minorities.
Muslims have a moral responsibility to engage in the social, political and economic development of the societies they live in. Global Muslim societies would do well in following the exceptional efforts of the Indian clerics in denouncing terrorism and de linking it with Islam. Sincere moral outrage needs to be expressed at Taliban atrocities in Afghanistan and Pakistan, political kidnappings and assassinations, militancy in Kashmir, Shia Sunni killings in Iraq and Pakistan, fatwas that condone suicide bombings in the Israel Palestine conflict and other such atrocities that effect innocent lives. Muslims require the consensus of the international in combating extremism but our credibility is lost when we demonstrate selective outrage as in the aftermath of the Danish cartoons.
Political Islam draws its lifeblood from the ideology of fighting the oppressor, but has clearly become the oppressor. Even though some Islamist groups have renounced violence and accepted the principles of democracy, marginally improved their stand on women and minority rights, they remain socially conservative. In Jordan, the Islamist party does not support the rights of women to file for divorce. In Kuwait the Islamists fought against the right of women to vote. In Egypt, the Muslim Brotherhood will not allow a woman or a person from a minority community to become head of state. Unfortunately, militant Islamist groups thrive in the political vacuum created by oppressive regimes in most Islamic countries.
Muslims must stop blaming the problem of extremism on catastrophic foreign policies for two wrongs simply do not make a right. Islamism is primarily a Muslim problem, threatening both Muslim and non- Muslim societies. We need to acknowledge there is a problem of theology when extremists talk of going straight to heaven after taking innocent lives.
The roots of all modern militant Islamic movements can be traced to one man called Abdul Wahab from Nejd in the Arabian Peninsula. He set out to ‘purify’ Islam, believing that Muslims had drifted away from true religion. Wahab’s followers destroyed many sacred sites he considered idols. Attacking the arts for being frivolous and dangerous, Wahab sanctioned the rape; murder and plunder of those who refused to follow his injunctions. He was considered a heretic by most, for Makkah and Madinah were then centres of contemplative Islam, inhabited by Sufis from all over the world.
In 1774-5 Wahab negotiated a deal with the then nomadic tribe of Saud, forebears of the current royal family in exchange for support in their quest for political domination. Most Saudi’s reject the name Wahabbi; they either call themselves Muwahuddin- Unitarians- or Salafi, refering to salaf, the venerated companions of the Prophet. In this blinkered view, no other version of religious truth can exist. This new face of Islam has nothing to do with Sufis, music, poetry, miracles or the countless devotional customs of Muslim cultures across the world.
Under the patronage of the Saudi Arabia, Wahabism went from strength to strength. Abul Ala Mawdudi, a journalist who translated the Quran outside the paradigms of classical propagated the Wahabi ideology. He founded the political party Jamaat e Islami in Pakistan, making jihad central to Islamic discourse. Addressing non-Muslims as infidels, he grouped Muslims into ‘partial’ and ‘true’ Muslims. Mawdudi’s ideas of Islam as a revolutionary doctrine to take over governments and overturn the whole universal order deeply influenced Syed Qutub of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. These groups have been motivated by political upheavals and the rejection of traditional scholars. Syed Qutub’s brother happened to be among the teachers of Osama bin Laden.
The extremism now found in Makkah and Madinah, the heartland of Islam, is the Wahabi ideology that the Saudis have spent millions in promoting through their outreach programs. There is no tolerance for Shias, Sunni Sufis or other Muslim traditions, leave alone non -Muslims. Unfortunately, there is no collective Muslim protest against the Saudi regime for bulldozing graveyards, destroying cultural and religious heritage in the holy cities, imposing a certain sexual segregation of the sexes inside the Prophets mosque at Madinah, radical sermons, or the distribution of radical literature outside Saudi mosques, many of them issuing calls for death to whoever they view as infidels or innovators of Islam. The problem of Muslim extremism began in the Muslim world and the responsibility of resolving it lies with us.
The inability to present a picture of Islam as a peaceful religion is a collective failure of global Muslim communities. We could begin with increasing the decibel in condemning violence, sectarianism, standing up for the rights of women, stop demonising the other as kufaar (infidels) and show increased support for democratic movements in Muslim countries. It is time for the devout, silent peace-loving Muslim majority to speak for Islam. Let us become louder than the radical voices that claim to represent us.
Sadia Dehlvi is a Delhi based writer and author of the forthcoming book, “Sufism: The Heart of Islam†published by HarperCollins India.
Sadia,
The real threat is at this link:
http://english.aljazeera.net/focus/2009/04/200948132212418175.html
And then the non-Shariah courts are at their best to do the job:
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2009/04/20094100016197194.html
Naqqaad
In tamil there is awording “kutram parkil sutram illai” means that all around has weakness and we will have to accept them as they are.
There is nothing like a perfect as the perfection is in the eyes of the beholder.
Pingback: The Threat Of Political Islam ’shaksiyat parasti’ (literally ‘personality worship’) Muslim extremism began in the Muslim world and the responsibility of resolving it lies with us.that is so characteristic of many Muslim religious organizations can
Excellent article. A follower is the face of a religion and the religion is judged by how he behaves. Nobody reads the books to asses a relgiion. Budhism is generally treated as the most peaceful relgion. Its not because people read and understand ‘Dhammapada’ written by Buddha. Its just because, generally they are peaceful even when they protest. Islamic and Hindu extremists are destroying their own religions. I am a Hindu and as per official records, a Brahmin. I am deeply hurt when people from my own religion make statements like this http://www.hindujagruti.org/news/6672.html. Every person should remember that they are the face of their country, their state and their religion.
Sadia, I am looking forward to reading your forthcoming book.
M Naqqad
This article was about the pernicious effect of men like Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab, Sayyid Qutb, their rejection of traditional Islamic scholarship and their hateful and violent ideology in the name of Islam.You did not address that argument at all.They are the ones who have created their own pseudo-Islamic versions and brainwashed many youth.
I agree with many of the other issues of how Indian Muslims face prejudice, discrimination and often bear the brunt of police brutality and the biased reporting in the media etc etc.Also many genuine Muslim grievances receive no sympathy much less support because of the hardening of attitudes against them in many quarters.But thats a different issue altogether which can be discussed in a post on that topic.
The key issue for us as Muslims should be justice for all which is what Islam teaches us.
“O ye who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even as against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, and whether it be (against) rich or poor: for Allah can best protect both. Follow not the lusts (of your hearts), lest ye swerve, and if ye distort (justice) or decline to do justice, verily Allah is well-acquainted with all that ye do.” [An-Nisa 4:35]
My problem has always been with selective condemnation and outrage.Rather than saying don’t condemn this till you can’t change that call a spade a spade and condemn wrong wherever you see it.Yes many Muslims are being oppressed but also some Muslims are following a violent ideology and killing innocent people in the name of Islam.You can and should support the oppressed but also condemn the terrorists at the same time.
As an Indian Muslim I am deeply concerned about both my community and my country and its security.While we have a right to fight for justice within the system we also have a duty to protect our country and fight those who wish to destroy it.
Inam,
The lethargy of the so called enlightened people and accepting that the ‘Strugglists’ of so called ‘Islamic type’ are having a field day is a defeatist mentality. A dedicated thought and practice is needed to take on any deviant ideology. Mere criticism has been ineffective and targeting a supposedly ‘deviant’ ideology while conceding its effectiveness in public is dangerous. What all of us remember that the Sufism of Bahadur Shah Zafar made India slave for 200 years physically and forever practically.
As Salamu Aliekum…
Sister Sadia:
I wish i could have a debate with you???
You started so well but later the same old song, Sufism and Sufis…
Sufism is not a part of Islam and Sufis are nothing but the one who search GOD within, which is against the basic principle of Islam. They have done nothing new nor have they bring anything new into Islam, they do things which are being taught to them by Islam and the Prophet of Islam, i prefer calling them Wali(Loyal Salves of Allah) rather then Sufis, who sing and dance…
And the rest of your article is good and you have point out some of the very important areas of trouble, the only solution which i see is that we Muslims be more Islamic, learn more of Islam and Teach the coming generation more about Islam both Din and Duniya(Religion and World), the extremist forces can only to defeated by right way Islam against there own Isolated view of Islam…
Oh, Allah(swt) Please give more and more Knowledge to Muslims to learn and understand Islam…Aameen…
Wassalam….
Islam is neither Sufi nor Wahabi these are all given names to Islam by people within and outside Islam. Islam is not just about worshiping, or Sufi spiritualism but living a steadfast life with pride a dignity. Islam is also about protecting your faith defending your family and home, and standing up for your rights and to confront your enemy if necessary. Who is on the right side of the conflict is known to Allah only. What has so called moderate Islam contributed to the Muslims of the world except with corrupt leaders and puppet rulers who served nothing but to the enemies of Islam? What has moderate Muslims contributed to Muslim welfare in India? The so called intellectuals of moderate Muslims of India were not even able to make one political platform in last 60 years. They couldn’t even protect their own language the language which has given so much to Indian culture Indian cinema, and music industry. Ms Sadia ji how many Urdu digests are published by your family owned SHAMA publications, what happened to Urdu readers of India, I don’t think Taliban have anything to do with that…
Moderate and Secular Islam does not mean compromising on your faith and cultural values. The problem with the so called Secular India it considers Shah Rukh Khan and Sanjay Khan Type the ideal Muslims because they have gone against the Islamic traditions. Shah Rukh’s spouse is a practicing Hindu and Sanjay Khan’s son in law is Hindu and both claim to be proud Muslims of secular India thus interpreting their own version of Islam. There are many Muslim film makers, actors in Indian film industry and there are millions of Muslims living in India yet Muslims are portrayed either as terrorists, or mafia. Now a new trend to alienate a Muslim family a Muslim girl is shown falling for a Hindu boy to marry and this is shown as ok for a secular India.
The current rise in fundamentalist Islam is a reaction to Islam portrayed by liberal Muslims to fit their own life style or interest and call that Islam. It is also a reaction to the injustice and self served policies carried by the entities that have used Islam and Muslims in all forms to achieve their own interests but never legitimize their rightful demands. To avoid this phenomenon Muslims have to learn to stand up as Muslims and tell the truth. The rise in fundamental Islam is also due to unsolved political and territorial issues ignored by the west due to their political bias
Whenever I read the western media, I felt it said too many bad things about Muslims and associated every supposed bad thing Muslims do to Islam. I also felt that it associated every bad thing a person does to him being a Muslim.
But, your article has shown the ugly side that education is not helping Muslims. It was an eye opener. Thank you.